Crockford Migration offers a competitive pricing structure based on visa transactions. There are no hidden costs.
Strategic and application related advice is provided as a courtesy to employers who engage Crockford Migration as a provider of visa services.
As a pricing guide the Migration Agents Registration Authority annually publishes the average fees charged by migration consultants.
Crockford Migration is fully compliant with the Migration Agents Code of Conduct.
Abolishment of the 457 visa program
The Department of Home Affairs has abolished the 457 visa program from 18 March 2018 and replaced it with the Temporary Skills Shortage visa subclass 482. Existing 457 visas remain valid and holders should not be affected unless changing employer or renewing their visas.
Skilling Australians Fund (training levy)
Introduced in August 2018 the SAF training levy has replaced previous sponsor training obligations and applies to all employer sponsored visa nominations (TSS & PR) lodged after 12 August 2018. They levy is charged as part of the employer nomination and must be paid by sponsors, it cannot under law be recovered from visa applicants.
Training levy charges appear below:
| Business size |
TSS visa |
ENS / RSMS visas (PR) |
| Small (annual turnover less than $10 million) |
$1200 per year or part thereof |
$3000 one-off
|
| Other businesses |
$1800 per year or part thereof |
$5000 one-off
|
482 Visa – Temporary Skill Shortages
Appropriate for any period of work exceeding 3 months, 482 visas are suitable for Australian employers who need skilled workers quickly or overseas businesses wishing to set up an office in Australia.
The nominated occupation must appear on a skills list
Occupations appearing on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) are eligible for 482 visas with a 4 year validity and are provided with a pathway to employer sponsored permanent residence.
Occupations listed on the Short Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) are limited to 2 year 482 visas (renewable once) and do not provide a pathway to permanent residence.
The 482 visa:
- allows skilled workers of any age to work for an employer for up to 1-4 years;
- allows families to accompany or join the skilled workers in Australia;
- allows multiple travel until the visa expires;
- may provide a pathway for employer sponsored permanent residence;
- allows employment to be terminated and the worker repatriated if things aren’t working out.
What you should know:
To use this visa, employers need to have a Standard Business Sponsorship which is approved by Immigration for a 5 year period. Companies wishing to sponsor must be financially viable, have a commitment to the recruitment of Australians and comply with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship sponsor obligations. Skill thresholds apply. Employers are able to source professional through to trade occupations.
Sponsors who qualify for Accredited Sponsor status receive a number of facilitation measures including significantly faster processing times and reduced employer nomination and police clearance requirements.
Sponsors need to demonstrate recruitment efforts to fill the role locally (Labour Market Testing) unless an International Trade Obligation applies.
400 Visa – short term work
This visa provides a cheap, responsive visa option for “one off” pieces of work which do not exceed 6 months in situations where:
- The work undertaken is highly specialised;
- Engagement in the work will be non‑ongoing;
- The applicant does not intend to engage in activities that will have adverse consequences for employment or training opportunities, or conditions of employment, for Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents.
What you should know:
- Visa applicants must be overseas at the time of visa application and decision;
- This visa is not appropriate for a number of overseas workers to be rotated through a position on a short-term basis. A 482 visa would be required in this scenario;
- Under Immigration policy, the majority of visa approvals will be limited to 6-12 weeks validity rather than the full 6 month period available under legislation;
- Further visas of this type would usually only be granted if the need for return to Australia was due to unforseen and compelling circumstances and there is an urgent need for the applicant to enter and stay in Australia to complete a task.
Employer Sponsored Migration
The Employer Nomination Scheme allows employers to sponsor skilled workers who are overseas or in Australia for permanent migration where a 2 year full time job is available.
The Government made changes to this program in March 2018 which require the nominated occupation to appear on the Medium and Long-term Strategic skills list (MLTSSL) and the applicant to be less than 45 years of age at the time of application.
186 or 187 visas:
- can be offered by employers as an employee retention strategy to visa holders;
- do not require skills assessment if the employee worked with you in their nominated role for 3 years as a 482 or 457 visa holder;
Transitional arrangements apply for persons who held a 457 visa on 18 April 2017, or who had applied before that date and a 457 visa was later granted.
For this cohort applications for permanent residence under the 186 (Temporary Stream) stream can still proceed under arrangements in place at the time their 457 visa was granted:
- the nominated occupation does not need to appear on Immigration skills list;
- applicant must be less than 50 years of age;
- skills assessment not required if the employee worked has with you in their nominated role for 2 years as a 482 or 457 visa holder.
What you should know:
Standard visa processing can take 6-8 months. Many employers prefer to get their workers in Australia on a 482 visa and then sponsor them permanently so that they are working for you, while the permanent visa is being processed.
Transitional arrangements for persons who held 457 visas on 18 April 2017 will cease on 18 March 2022 after which normal (restricted) application criteria will apply.
Labour Agreements
Immigration Labour Agreements are sponsorship contracts negotiated with the Australian Government which allow employers to sponsor overseas workers to Australia. Director Karen Crockford is also a founding partner at Migration Agreements Australia which specializes in negotiating Labour Agreements and can help employers meet the regulatory requirements. Corporate clients receive strategic advice direct from MAA partners who with extensive industry experience have established networks in the government, resource and education sectors. www.migrationagreements.com.au
Labour Agreements:
- are good for construction projects or industry associations where large numbers of workers are needed;
- are mandatory for the on-hire industry;
- can include occupations not listed on Immigration’s skills list;
- can be negotiated for permanent migration as well as 482 temporary business visas.
What you should know:
Negotiating the Labour Agreement can take considerable time and involve a high level of Government scrutiny. Each agreement is subject to annual monitoring. Standard 482 Business Sponsorships are usually quicker and easier. Labour Agreements should be considered for major projects involving large numbers of workers and complex skill requirements. Regional Employers who could previously access lower salary and skills thresholds under the recently abolished 457 program must now apply under the Labour Agreement scheme to access similar concessions.
